The NBA is averaging 16,922 fans per game through Dec. 8, flat compared to the same period a year ago. Western Conference clubs are seeing a slight bump in attendance, led by gains for the Grizzlies, Clippers and Kings. The Grizzlies are filling FedExForum to only 78.8% of capacity, but the club is seeing a 17.9% jump in average attendance despite a 9-14 record. The Kings and Clippers also are seeing close to a 9% jump at the gate despite losing records. The Rockets are seeing the sharpest drop in the Western Conference, down 8.2% through last night. Hornets games at New Orleans Arena are averaging 13,584 fans, down 7.2% as the team transitions to temporary ownership by the league. Listed below is team-by-team attendance for the NBA Western Conference, with comparisons to the same period a year ago. For Eastern Conference figures, see tomorrow's issue of THE DAILY.

NBA WESTERN CONFERENCE ATTENDANCE THROUGH DECEMBER 8

HOME TEAM

GMS

TOTAL

AVG.

%
CAP.

PREV.

% +/-

GMS
('09-10)

Trail Blazers

9

183,940

20,438

102.3%

20,401

0.2%

12

Mavericks

12

238,341

19,862

103.4%

19,847

0.1%

10

Jazz

14

269,921

19,280

96.8%

18,674

3.2%

12

Lakers

12

227,964

18,997

100.0%

18,997

0.0%

15

Warriors

9

163,504

18,167

92.7%

18,000

0.9%

9

Thunder

11

198,989

18,090

99.4%

17,884

1.2%

11

Spurs

12

214,674

17,890

96.3%

17,734

0.9%

12

Suns

10

174,342

17,434

94.6%

17,339

0.5%

7

Clippers

13

212,817

16,371

85.9%

15,073

8.6%

13

Nuggets

11

179,318

16,302

85.1%

17,061

-4.5%

10

Rockets

9

142,018

15,780

87.5%

17,180

-8.2%

8

T'Wolves

10

154,869

15,487

80.0%

15,352

0.9%

11

Grizzlies

11

157,141

14,286

78.8%

12,118

17.9%

9

Hornets

11

149,427

13,584

79.0%

14,637

-7.2%

10

Kings

12

158,550

13,213

76.3%

12,146

8.8%

11

W.C. TOTALS

166

2,825,815

17,023

90.8%

16,920

0.6%

160

NBA TOTALS

325

5,499,708

16,922

88.4%

16,962

-0.2%

307

NOTES: Teams can exceed 100% capacity because of standing-room-only ticket sales. All attendance figures are based on totals posted immediately following games. They may not reflect any subsequent adjustments made by teams or the league.